BOSTON (NEWS10) – An appeals court has ruled the National Football League’s Deflategate will be heard in early 2016.

The NFL is appealing a federal judge’s decision to throw out New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension. The suspension was handed down by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Goodell had determined Brady was involved with an alleged plot to deflate footballs ahead of last year’s AFC Championship game.

The reversal of the sentence was done on the grounds that the league violated Brady’s rights under the collective bargaining agreement. It was also done on the grounds that Brady did not get notice he could be punished for being “generally aware” of misconduct by other people.

The appeal could be heard as soon as the first week of February, but it could be later.